Female garments



July 30, 1963 F. M. coMoLLo FEMALE GRMENTS Filed Nov. 22, 1960 United States Patent O 3,099,265 FEMALE GARMENTS Frances M. Comollo, New York, N.Y., assignor to Queen Size Clothes, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 71,012 1 Claim. (Cl. 12S-454) This invention relates to feminine clothing construction, and more particularly -to the combination of a foundation garment connectable to an outer garment.

The world of fashion has long endeavored to create a slim vappearance in heavy-set women. Although conventional foundation garments, such as corsets for example, strive toward this end, they often produce discomfort in proportion to the size of lthe wearer. The heavier the wearer, in other words, `and consequently the more necessary the garment, the greater is the degree of ensuing discomfort.

As is well recognized, two-piece ensembles of skirt and blouse are found particularly flattering and comfortable by heavy-set women, and in addition, afford :a wide range of variety in any wardrobe. In the past, however, one source of annoyance unavoidably associated with the wearing of `such -an ensemble was that the blouse would not remain tucked into the skirt. Body movements in general, and raising of the .arms in particular, would invariably force the blouse upward with respect to the skirt.

Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to improve the appearance of heavy-set women.

yIt is another object of this invention to remove a major Isource of annoyance generally associated with two-piece skirt .and blouse ensembles.

It is another `object of this invention to render longline foundation garments substantially more comfortable.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a foundation garment expandable over the range of several conventional sizes.

It is a further object of this invention to provide .a longline foundation garment which allows freedom of movement without unnecessary binding.

According to the invention, a combinational garment is provided comprising a longline foundation garment having fastening means disposed on its lower portion, and a blouse having reciprocal fastening means positioned to be connectable to the foundation garment fastening means when the combination is being worn.

According to one feature of the invention, the side and lower front edges of the foundation garment 4are shaped to accommodate `sporadic changes in the weight of a wearer, and in addition, permit relatively unrestricted leg movement.

According to another feature of the invention, the lower rear edge is cut to render the garment more comfortable to a wearer when she assumes .a sitting or bending position.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will be more thoroughly understood by reference to the following detailed specification of one embodiment of a combination garment arranged in accordance with the principles of the invention, .and the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in frontal view one embodiment of a longline foundation garment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the rear view of the foundation garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts, in superimposed view, the combination of foundation and outer garments connected together as when in use; .and

FIG. 4 shows in detail the complementary fastening arrangements of the foundation and outer garments.

31,099,265 Patented July 30, 1963 With reference directed to FIG. 1, a frontal view of a foundation garment arranged in .accordance with the invention is shown as being of the single piece longline variety designed to comfortably embrace the area of the body extending from the bust down through the hip. As shown, the foundation garment includes a pair of bust supporting cups 1 permanently fastened toa bodice, shown generally at 2, which comprises the remainder of the garment. To enhance the garments ornamental appearance, lace or other decorative material forms a full length panel 3 disposed longitudinally down the front of bodice 2, sharply tapering toward its lower edge. In order to comfortably :accommodate variations in weight experienced from time to time by heavy-set individuals, the remainder of bodice 2 is constructed of an elastic material which is responsible, in part, for the ability of the foundation garment to expand over a relatively wide range.

The sides of .the lower portion of bodice 2 `are slightly ilared at edges 4 to receive the hips. According to a feature of the invention, flared portion 4 of bodice 2 in conjunction with .a V-.shaped slot 5, cut from the lower circumferential edge of Athe bodice, contribute to the expandability of the garment, and in addition, permit a wearer to experience maximum freedom o-f leg movement. By virtue of ilared edges 4 and V-shaped slot 5, the garments lower frontal edge exceeds, in length, the garments width, thereby enabling greater lateral expansion than if the lower edge were straight. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the foundation garment is supported at its upper extremity by a pair of shoulder straps 6, :and is equipped with several conventional garter straps 7 for supporting hose from its lower extremity. Secured to the front of bodice 2 are a pair of fastening means shown in the drawing as pressure sensitive adherent str-ips 8. The strips S, which will subsequently be described in greater detail, are parallel to and slightly displaced from flared edges 4.

FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of the back of the foundation garment depicted in FIG. 1, corresponding parts of each figure being correspondingly numbered. As shown, the garment has a rear opening longitudinally extending from lthe center of an upper edge 9 to a point slightly above a lower circumferential edge 10. A zipper 11 is secured to the sides of the opening to close the garment in conventional fashion. Upper edge y9, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, is straight, and in order to contain the loose flesh generally associated with this region of the body, intersects the back of a wearer across the shoulder blades.

To reduce to a minimum binding and other similar motive restrictions, lower circumferential edge 1li is concaved in shape, the highest portion of its arc intersecting the posterior of a wearer slightly below the base of her spine. Accordingly, when a wearer assumes, for example, -a sitting position, her posterior is allowed, figuratively speaking, rto ilow out of lower edge 10, thereby eliminating otherwise exerted pressure by the garment on the remainder of her body.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the invention in its entirety comprising the combination of an outer garment in the form of blouse 12 and the foundation garment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Secured to the lower edge of blouse 12 are a pair of pressure sensitive adherent strips ,13 which are complementary to and positioned to grip adherent strips 8 of the foundation garment. It has been found that if the strips are positioned as shown, not only does the front of blouse 12 retain a smooth line, but in addition, arm movement is rendered substantially unrestricted. Blouse 1,2, simil-ar to the foundation garment, opens from the back, a zipper 14 being fastened to the sides of the opening to enclose the garment about a wearer.

FIG. 4 shows in detail an adherent strip 8 joined to a complementary strip 13. In a preferred embodiment, strips 8 and 1'3- are constructed to have their respective abutting surfaces adhere exclusively to each other, a surface of the former being composed, for example, of a crushed fabric pile, while an abutting surface of @the latter comprises a cloth backing having resilient, hooked projections protruding therefrom in considerable density. When complementary surfaces are pressed together, the projections of strip 1'3 penetrate and snagthe pile of str-ip 8, thereby forming a cohesive junction. When, on the other hand, the junction is being broken, the projections initially stnaighten, thereby releasing the pile, and, once free, spring back to their original form.

Adherent str-ips similar to those described above are readily available, one particular Variety being sold commercially under the name Velcro. It is to be particularly noted that any abutting segment of a strip is capable of gripping any segment of a complementary strip. Consequently, the combination garment is rendered adjustable firstly to accommodate wearers of different heights, and secondly to allow a wearer to vary the depth to which she tucks in her blouse.

Although only a single embodiment of the invention has been described herein, it is to be understood that numerous modifications and other arrangements may be conceived without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

Feminine apparel comprising, in combination, a long line foundation garment including a body encircling bodice bounded by upper and lower circumferential edges and having a front portion and a rear portion joined together and situated between said edges, said bodice being ared outwardly in the region of said lower edge where said front and said rear portions are joined together, a pair of bust supporting cups connected to said upper edge of said front portion, said bust supporting cups being arranged symmetrically with respect to the center line of said front portion, and said upper edge of said rear portion being straight and situated substantially level with yand in back of said bust supporting cups, a V-shaped notch located in said lower edge of said front portion, said notch being centered on the center line of said front portion, an arcuate notch located in said lower edge of said rear portion, said arcuate notch being centered on the center line o-f said rear portion, first pressure sensitive fastening means attached to said lower edge of said front portion of said bodlice on each side of said V-shaped notch, a blouse enveloping said foundation garment, said blouse having a front portion and a rear portion, said front and rear portions being joined together and bounded by a bottom circumferential edge which is disposed substantially level with said lower edge of said foundation garment, second pressure sensitive fastening means connected to said front portion of said blouse at said bottom edge, said second pressure sensitive fastening means being connected to eaoh side of the center line of said front portion of said blouse, said second pressure sensitive means being disposed with respect to said first pressure sensitive means such that lat least a segment of said rst pressure sensitive means bears lagainst at least a segment of said second pressure sensitive means when said blouse is enveloping said foundation garment.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,386,909 Rosehill Oct. 16, 1945 2,606,469l Licht Aug. 5, 1952 2,717,437 De Mestral Sept. 13, 1955 2,880,731 Kendall Apr. 7, 1959 2,931,747 Dexter Aug. 5, 196() 

